August2014

August 2014 - Vol. 45, Issue 8 IN THIS ISSUE...

Leadership P2- Article By Pat MulQueeny P3 - Article By Jeff Holds P4 -Ambassador Updates

Community Building P5 -EP Schools

Networking P6- Chamber News P7- Chamber News

B.E.E.R. Breakfast - August 8th from 7:30-9:30AM Please join the Bloomington, Eden Prairie, Edina, and Richfield Chambers’ of Commerce to hear from the members of the Minnesota Super Bowl Bid Committee who delivered the successful presentation “Built for the Bold.” The bid presentation highlighted the new, iconic and bold stadium as a centerpiece, and included the many bold moves Minnesotans have made in creating a destination that is ready to host the world’s biggest game.

Lester Bagley, Vice President of the Minnesota Vikings, Michael Langley, President/ CEO of Greater MSP, and Michele Kelm-Helgen, Executive Director of the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority will provide further insight on this highly anticipated event for the region.

Location: The Westin Edina Galleria, 3201 Galleria, Edina Cost: Members: $25 and Non-Members $50

Thank you to our sponsors!

Follow us on Social Media! epchamber2 Follow us on Twitter!

Women’s Golf Tournament - August 25th

Look for us on Facebook “Eden Prairie Chamber”

The Chamber’s Women’s Golf Tournament will take place on Monday, August 25th! This year’s event will take place at Bent Creek Golf Club in Eden Prairie.

Look for us on LinkedIn “Eden Prairie Chamber” Visit our YouTube Channel “EPChamber2” Visit our Discussions Blog epchamber2.blogspot.com

Join us for some fun! There are openings for golfers and sponsorship opportunities available. We will also be having exhibitor tables at the After Hours program. This event tends to sell out quickly, so contact us today! Also-Join us for the Girls Gone Golfin’ After Hours! There will be plenty of door prizes, exhibitor tables, appetizers, cash bar and of course networking! Don’t miss this great networking opportunity!

Contact Brianna with any questions at Brianna.cattrysse@epchamber.org or at 952-944-2830.

THANK YOU to our 2014 Annual Sponsors!

Gold Sponsor

Silver Sponsor’s

Silver Sponsor’s

Bronze Sponsor

Bronze Sponsor

Leadership David C. Olson, Minnesota Chamber president, dies at age 57 By: Pat MulQueeny, President Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce David C. Olson, 57, longtime distinguished president of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, died July 16, 2014, after an 18 month fight with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He is widely credited for the Chamber being recognized as the state’s premier business advocacy organization and respected for his uncanny ability and art of bringing people together for setting strategy and solving problems.

In recent years, ensuring a skilled workforce for Minnesota employers became a high priority for him personally as well as the Chamber. He served six years on the Minnesota State Colleges & Universities Board of Trustees, including as chair from 2007-2010.

Olson had a successful background in chamber work even before joining the Minnesota Chamber. He served five years as president of the TwinWest Chamber of Commerce and three years as executive director of the Burnsville Chamber of Commerce. Prior to that, he held staff positions in economic development, transportation and energy at the Greater Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce.

As a Chamber President, I was privileged to know David and how hard he worked on behalf of the businesses in Minnesota. Additionally, he worked with the local Chambers of Commerce from across our state to build a strong group of organizations who make a difference in our businesses and economy. David will be remembered for his accomplishments, his helping personality and his love of Minnesota.

Chamber Starts Career Fair The Eden Prairie Chamber is partnering with Eden Prairie High School to host a Career Fair on Tuesday, October 7th, from 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. in the main gym at the high school. The Chamber’s Business Development Committee is currently contacting local businesses to participate in this free event. The primary focus will be on having manufacturing and technology businesses participate to highlight career opportunities students can pursue as they finish their high school education.

For those interested in participating, please call the Chamber at 952-944-2830.

Don’t Forget to Vote in the Primary: As you know it is election time and here are some important dates to remember this month: • July 29 Filing begins for City Council seats • Aug. 9 Absentee voting Saturday prior to Election Day, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• Aug. 12 State Primary, Polls open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Filing closes for City Council seats at 5 p.m Offices that you will be voting on may include – U.S. Senator, Governor and Lt. Governor, Secretary of State, Minnesota House of Representatives and Judges. We encourage our members to participate in the elections and let your voice be heard.

Eden Prairie Business Resource Center Are you interested in sharing your business knowledge with other Chamber Members and the business community? We already have more than 30 business articles posted online. This is a free benefit for members to share their knowledge. It is also a great opportunity for the public to gain some knowledge on your topics of expertise! These articles have already generated leads for many of the members writing articles.

Check out the Business Resource Center and submit or read your first article at epchamber.org/Resources/

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“Connections” (USPS 729770) is published 12 times per calendar year by the Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce, 11455 Viking Dr. #270, Eden Prairie, MN 55344 Periodicals postage paid at Prior Lake, MN - POSTMASTER: Send address changes to “Connections,” 11455 Viking Dr. #270, Eden Prairie, MN 55344

Leadership BDR – Backup Disaster Recovery Device By: Jeff Holds Phoenix Technology Solutions, LLC All companies should have some form of backup of their data. Whether you are a single one person business to a billion dollar corporation, backing up the company information is critical.

Most companies are familiar with backing up onto an external drive, to tapes, or over the internet.

These are great ways to backup data and restore if the unthinkable happens. The only problem is, it takes time to restore the information through these mediums. Many businesses can’t afford to be down several days while data is restored and a server is built back up. So, thus the BDR device has become the new solution for many businesses.

So what is a BDR? This is the next level of backing up for businesses with Servers. Instead of just backing up the data to a drive, the whole server(s) are backed up to another local separate server (BDR). This backup to the BDR is typically called an image which can then be spun up on the BDR if the original server crashes. This allows for minimal downtime while the BDR is activated with the server image so the company can continue to function as though the original server was still running.

This server image can also be transferred over the internet to a remote BDR that can also be available to spin up the image, if there is a complete catastrophe at a company’s offices. This allows users to work remotely until a new office situation is figured out, thus preventing loss of company data and the inability to not work for several days.

Always keep in mind that for any company, they can never have enough backups. Redundancy is a great way to prevent accidents and loss of data. With many threats from the internet to local accidents, it is imperative to backup all the important data both locally and offsite. Phoenix has an excellent BDR solution that is catered to small and medium businesses who are looking for a cost effective way to develop an easy disaster recovery plan.

For more information and a free consultation on what the right solution for your business might be, please feel free to contact us at Sales@ptsmn.com or call 952-943-1632.

Spotlight Member of the Month ServSafe Training and Certi ication: Lesley Fahey (763) 843-2326 Name: Lesley Fahey Hometown: Excelsior, MN Company/Title: Independent ServSafe Instructor/Proctor How many years have you been involved with the Chamber: 4 Favorite Part of the Chamber: The great loyalty the members have with each other that has been gained with the large amount of networking opportunities this Chamber provides. I also enjoy being a Chamber Ambassador!

Please explain your business and how the Chamber can help you: I am an Independent Instructor and Proctor for ServSafe. I provide a class and test to earn a Nationally Accredited Certi icate from the National Restaurant Association. It is an 8-hour class and test on Food Safety using the ServSafe model.

Learn about foodborne illness, how to prevent it and how to train employees in food sanitation. I have 25 years of restaurant experience and have been a ServSafe instructor and Proctor for 10. I offer smaller class sizes that are interactive and full of information. Close to home, I offer classes in Eden Prairie 1-2 times a month or can come to your home or business when convenient for you.

11455 Viking Dr. #270, Eden Prairie, MN 55344 • Ph: 952-944-2830 • Fax: 952-944-0229 • www.epchamber.org

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Leadership Ambassador of the Month - David Anderson - Thompson Hall A Nationally Published Author & Public Speaker on topics of Business & Internet Law, David Anderson has successfully represented business owners in deals and disputes since 1981. While working with many startups in the establishment of their businesses, David also continues to represent mature businesses in contracts, Intellectual Property, business litigation, and buying or selling businesses. David is an active member of the business community, holding Board and Chairman positions in the Minnesota Bar Association, Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce, and the DCTC Entrepreneurship Institute.

AMBASSADOR UPDATES The Eden Prairie Chamber Ambassadors serve as goodwill representatives in our business community. They learn about member businesses and encourage membership retention through mentorships, personal phone calls and much more. Below are some of the places that our very busy Ambassadors visited.

Site Visits in June & July Cox Insurance

Adam Dawson 651-647-0001 639 Larpenteur Avenue West St Paul, MN www.coxins.net

Flex-Able Solutions

CE Power Solutions MN, LLC

Please join CE Power Solutions for an open house on August 13th from 11 am- 6 pm Jason Thompson 952-405-8817 7674 Washington Avenue South Eden Prairie, MN

EcoXpress

Jim Allen 952-217-0846 10124 Kiersten Place Eden Prairie, MN www.ecoxpress.com

Web.com

It Works!

Aaron Schoenecker 612-819-1222 6880 West 175th Avenue Eden Prairie, MN www.flex-ablesolutions.com

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Theresa Lucito 763-772-5260 www.DrTheresa.myitworks.com

Zev Kujolic 612 227-1806 7825 Washington Avenue #500 Eden Prairie, MN www.leads.com

11455 Viking Dr. #270, Eden Prairie, MN 55344 • Ph: 952-944-2830 • Fax: 952-944-0229 • www.epchamber.org

Community Building Update from the Eden Prairie School District

By Eden Prairie Schools We appreciate the opportunity to share information about our district in the monthly editions of the chamber newsletter.

We give you a glimpse into the district each month, but invite you to visit the district’s website at www.edenpr.org for more information. You can also follow us and like us! The district is using social media as another means to provide updates, information and shout-outs to students and staff who are doing great things. Follow us on Twitter @EPS272 and like us on Facebook at Eden Prairie Schools. Here are a few things happening in your school district: Board approves referendum ballot questions – At the June 12 special board meeting, the Eden Prairie School Board unanimously approved two ballot questions for the November 4 referendum. The questions pertain to the district’s operating levy and offer voters the opportunity to both stabilize district finances and make investments in Eden Prairie students at every grade level. The ballot questions will be: •Question #1 – The district will ask residents to renew a portion of its existing operating levy of $589.33 per pupil, and to increase the operating levy by $700 per pupil, for a total of $1,289.33. This amount will stabilize the district’s finances and limit the amount of budget reductions for the next five years. This levy will generate about $12.7 million each year for the next 10 years.

•Question #2 – The district will ask residents to approve an additional increase in its operating levy by $150 per pupil, which will result in a total operating levy amount of $1,439.33 when the amounts from questions #1 and #2 are combined. This amount will allow the district to invest in lowering class sizes for grades K-1, and to hire additional staff to implement personalized learning strategies for students in grades 2-12. This levy will generate about $1.5 million each year for the next 10 years.

The current operating levy has been in place since 2004 and will expire at the end of the 2014-2015 school year. The operating levy requests represent a total of about $14.2 million per year, which is about 18 percent of the district’s general fund budget.

For more information about the referendum, go to the district’s website at www.edenpr.org/referendum2014.

EPHS Tops Lists of Grads in College – More Eden Prairie High School graduates attend college and achieve a degree within six years than graduates from any of our counterparts in the Lake Conference, according to statistics from the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC). The numbers are impressive and consistent across ethnic groups of Black and Hispanic students. According to the NSC website, more than 3,600 colleges and universities, enrolling 98 percent of all students in public and private U.S. institutions, participate in the Clearinghouse. Participating institutions provide access to actual enrollment and degree information on each of their students. As a result, only the Clearinghouse can offer access to a nationwide coverage of enrollment and degree records. “Given the very large percentage of our families that have college as their post-secondary goal, I think our community can be very proud of their schools and their kids,” said EPHS Principal Conn McCartan. He is a member of the Student Longitudinal Educational Student System task force, a partnership of state education groups, government, business and private sectors that works collaboratively to maximize achievement of all students. Although not all of the senior surveys are yet completed, McCartan said that well more than 90 percent of the EPHS class of 2014 has indicated they intend to enroll in college this fall. Eighty-nine percent of the respondents so far have said they will attend a four-year college. Beth Kreusch, EPHS Career Resource Center, said that they were very successful in applying to some of the most competitive schools in the country, including Cornell, Dartmouth, Duke, Harvard, Stanford, Berkeley, Vanderbilt, and universities of Chicago, Michigan and Pennsylvania. Below is a chart comparing post-secondary college enrollment and degree percentages for the five high schools in the Lake Conference using the most recent available data from the National Student Clearinghouse:

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Networking Eden Prairie Chamber Student Membership Program The student membership is designed for high school students who want to be involved with the Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce. These memberships are to help students learn more about business, business people and what skills they will need in the future. The benefits include: Attending Chamber programs and network with local business people, participating in a job shadow, service opportunities, participate in Chamber meetings and Committees and so much more!

Previous student members say: •“Being a student member of the Chamber has been such a rewarding experience. I have learned so much that I will be able to take with me into the next chapter of my life.”

•“I have learned so much from the Chamber through attending meetings and events, participating in committees and networking.”

•“I will be looking into joining a Chamber in my fututre.”

•“I will never forget the awesome connections I made and skills I learned at events like Business@Breakfast, the Chamber Gala, Fusion meeting and more! I was also lucky enough to shadow two Chamber Members, who provided me with lots of insight for my future.”

•“The experience I have gained through attending meetings and events is priceless.”

If you would like to sponsor a student or the entire program, please call (952) 944-2830. Cost to sponsor are listed below. The future of your companies depends on the futures of this generation. $2,500 - Covers a full year of expenses for 20 students $500 - Covers a full year of expenses for 5 students $25 - Covers one students monthly programs As a sponsor, you will be recognized in all Chamber Publications and on the Chamber’s Website For information on Student Member Sponsorships please contact the Chamber office at (952) 944-2830.

Save the Date - Today’s Business Radio Breakfast The Change Experts - How Smart Managers Boost Productivity Chanhassen Dinner Theatre - September 12th 7:30-9:30AM

Delegate, Evolve or Fail! Is your business constantly evolving to properly utilize personnel and rapidly changing technology? If you don’t use every advantage available today to improve productivity your competitors will do so and catch up and maybe pass you in the race for new clients and business. First off, are you managing your time correctly and delegating to your staff so that you are as productive as you can be? How can you put your employees in the best possible position to succeed with every tool available to achieve good results? From banking to cloud computing, every business has and will have to change to adapt new methodologies to stay ahead of the competition. Our panel of experts will discuss the ways their businesses have changed over the last couple of decades to ensure that they are able to succeed and help their clients to do so as well. Don’t’ miss this panel discussion for new ideas on how to tweak your business to be prepared for doing business in a rapidly changing environment.

Check out epchamber.org for a full schedule.

Cost: $25 for EVERYONE Location: Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, 501 West 78th Street, Chanhassen, MN

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11455 Viking Dr. #270, Eden Prairie, MN 55344 • Ph: 952-944-2830 • Fax: 952-944-0229 • www.epchamber.org

Networking 2014 Small Business Person of the Year Award The Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce annually recognizes an individual associated with one of its member companies as their Small Business Person of the Year. This award recognizes the individual for the success of the company and the individual’s participation in community affairs.

GENERAL QUALIFICATIONS •Must be an owner or a member of the management of a privately held, for profit business enterprise.

•The company will have been in existence for a minimum of three years.

•The company must have fewer than 250 employees.

•The company must be a member in good standing of the Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce.

DEADLINE FOR NOMINATION / APPLICATION: August 25, 2014 at 4:00 PM Please fill out the nomination form online at http://epchamber.org/News.asp

Member Success Story of the Month!

“A couple of years ago when I started Murphy Business of Minnesota I also joined the Eden Prairie Chamber. Through the Chamber I met Ellie Johnson owner of Healthy Training.

About 3 months ago Ellie came to me and ask if I could help her with the sale of her business and on July 15, 2014 the business was sold and Ellie is off to her next phase in life. I think it is important for people to know how networking within the EP Chamber is beneficial and how we can help each other. It was a pleasure working with Ellie, she was a great person to work with, and I hope some of her energy is now a part of me.” Dan Bauer, Murphy Business of Minnesota

Are you ready for some FOOTBALL? The Chamber has lower level Vikings season tickets available for single game purchase at face value. The four seats are located in the lower level, section 123 row 31 at TCF Stadium. Games available for purchase on a first come first served basis are: • September 14 vs. NE Patriots • September 28 vs. Falcons • October 12 vs. Lions • November 2 vs. Redskins • November 30 vs. Panthers • December 7 vs NY Jets To purchase these tickets, please call 952-944-2830 and have your credit card ready – the four tickets cost a total of $360. For those interested in the Green Bay Packer game – these will be on the live auction at the Chamber’s October 25th Gala event at the The Sheraton Bloomington. The Gala will also include the Chicago Bears tickets as part of our heads/tails raffle!

11455 Viking Dr. #270, Eden Prairie, MN 55344 • Ph: 952-944-2830 • Fax: 952-944-0229 • www.epchamber.org

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AUGUST 2014 - EPC Calendar of Events Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday 1

4

5

11

12

6

7

8

7:30- 8:30AM, Business@ Breakfast at EP Mall

8:30-9:30AM - Business Devel- 7:30 - 9:30AM - B.E.E.R. opment @ Chamber Office Breakfast

13

14

15

20

21

22

7:30- 8:30AM, Business@ Breakfast at EP Mall

7:30-8:30 AM - Board Meeting

7:30- 8:30AM, Business@ Breakfast at EP Mall

18

19 7:30-8:30AM: Government Committee Meeting

25

26

2PM - Women’s Golf Tournament at Bent Creek

11:45AM - 1PM - Brown Bag Lunch @ Chamber Office

27

28

29

7:30- 8:30AM, Business@ Breakfast at EP Mall

PLEASE RSVP/Cancel FOR ALL EVENTS BY 12 PM THE DAY PRIOR! Visit epchamber.org to view details, pricing or to RSVP today!